Reading news about vandalism next to Parliament building in Riga this evening made me remember a phrase from Winston Churchill: "The best argument against democracy is five minute conversation with average voter."
9 comments:
Anonymous
said...
Incredible events... I knew that the situation in Latvia is really bad, but didn't even think, that people are so disappointed. Or should we believe in opinion declarated by some Lettish newspapers that all this is done just for fun by drunk Latvian youth?
Well,a passionate youth couldn't miss a chance to show who they are. Something like that is organised in Vilnius, but it seems that there hasn't been serious accidents yet. Maybe police there is ready, considering events in Riga. In my opinion,that crisis is not something undefeatable, although I've heard that some people even suicide when they are faired...but it is said that things in Latvia and some other countries are worse than in the whole Europe.
Heh, then I think you wouldn't write that entry in your blog:) All those people seemed to be really furious. But this event didn't change anything I suppose. And won't change probably. People expect too much from their government, they can't work miracles. It's not easy to get a job nowadays, though. What should do a person, who is sacked because his employer just want to save money and there's no vacances even for very unprestigious posts?
Some of the frustration comes with the fact that last three years people got used to very high standart of living. However there was no sound financial basis for this, the money didn't come from adding value to something, but from cheap, easy-to-get credits from Scandinavian banks.
Ordinary students driving BMWs and Porches, attending expensive night clubs was nothing out of ordinary. Now the time came to pay the bill, unluckily it coincided with the worldwide credit crunch. Ouch...
As for unemployment, it's nothing tragic yet, i think Spain and Greece have higher unemployment rates. It will increase during the next year, no doubt, but so it will everywhere else. I feel the problems in this regard also personally, since my mother and her friend were fired recently, but even in my mom's case it's something people blame government for, when instead they should look at what they have done for this not to happen.
The previous sentence may sound cynical, yes, since i happen to partly own a business (and currently a successful one), but for those who complain all the time, i have a suggestion: it's a perfect time to start a political party. You will kill two flies with single blow: 1. You'll have a job (if you win elections) and 2. You won't hate the politicians anymore.
People blame not the politicians, but their decisions. As rioters declare... But I wonder, how long those smarties blaming the government would make ‘right‘ decisions and be fair being instead of politicians they are discontent with. Sometimes it looks that everyone can be a politician, but politics isn‘t just luxurious life - responsibility,the sword of Damocles is always over you. I think so. Simply if you‘re leader, you can't be well-liked...
Probably it's hard to get used with the fact- and the feeling particularly- that the country you are living, which used to have such a great development of economy suddenly faces such a decline. But people always desire better life... although it spoilts them, as in this case. There was much much harder periods in every nation‘s history- I mean wars, famines, exiles- I wonder how people managed to survive in such a terrible conditions. But more, they even save their humanity, if hystory doesn‘t idealize this. And then all that roughhouse in Riga seems to be such an absurdity.
9 comments:
Incredible events... I knew that the situation in Latvia is really bad, but didn't even think, that people are so disappointed. Or should we believe in opinion declarated by some Lettish newspapers that all this is done just for fun by drunk Latvian youth?
Comparing the information from newspapers with comments from people who saw that event, i have to say that media are right this time.
It really was a bunch of drunk youth, just not only Latvian.
Well,a passionate youth couldn't miss a chance to show who they are. Something like that is organised in Vilnius, but it seems that there hasn't been serious accidents yet. Maybe police there is ready, considering events in Riga. In my opinion,that crisis is not something undefeatable, although I've heard that some people even suicide when they are faired...but it is said that things in Latvia and some other countries are worse than in the whole Europe.
Sure crises isn't undefeatable, just that picketing doesn't help against such kind of (economic) crises.
I had an idea yesterday to go to the meeting with the poster saying "Go and work, you morons." Luckily i didn't go.
Heh, then I think you wouldn't write that entry in your blog:) All those people seemed to be really furious. But this event didn't change anything I suppose. And won't change probably. People expect too much from their government, they can't work miracles.
It's not easy to get a job nowadays, though. What should do a person, who is sacked because his employer just want to save money and there's no vacances even for very unprestigious posts?
Some of the frustration comes with the fact that last three years people got used to very high standart of living. However there was no sound financial basis for this, the money didn't come from adding value to something, but from cheap, easy-to-get credits from Scandinavian banks.
Ordinary students driving BMWs and Porches, attending expensive night clubs was nothing out of ordinary. Now the time came to pay the bill, unluckily it coincided with the worldwide credit crunch. Ouch...
As for unemployment, it's nothing tragic yet, i think Spain and Greece have higher unemployment rates. It will increase during the next year, no doubt, but so it will everywhere else. I feel the problems in this regard also personally, since my mother and her friend were fired recently, but even in my mom's case it's something people blame government for, when instead they should look at what they have done for this not to happen.
The previous sentence may sound cynical, yes, since i happen to partly own a business (and currently a successful one), but for those who complain all the time, i have a suggestion: it's a perfect time to start a political party. You will kill two flies with single blow: 1. You'll have a job (if you win elections) and 2. You won't hate the politicians anymore.
People blame not the politicians, but their decisions. As rioters declare... But I wonder, how long those smarties blaming the government would make ‘right‘ decisions and be fair being instead of politicians they are discontent with. Sometimes it looks that everyone can be a politician, but politics isn‘t just luxurious life - responsibility,the sword of Damocles is always over you. I think so. Simply if you‘re leader, you can't be well-liked...
Probably it's hard to get used with the fact- and the feeling particularly- that the country you are living, which used to have such a great development of economy suddenly faces such a decline. But people always desire better life... although it spoilts them, as in this case. There was much much harder periods in every nation‘s history- I mean wars, famines, exiles- I wonder how people managed to survive in such a terrible conditions. But more, they even save their humanity, if hystory doesn‘t idealize this. And then all that roughhouse in Riga seems to be such an absurdity.
It's just the second best argument against democracy. It can get worse.
That's when average voters make it into the government.
Admittedly not a problem Churchill had to deal with.
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